Dyeing Opposites

I have had a cold lately and haven't been up for doing many things.   I felt inspired to dye today so I quickly lept into action.

I needed some yarn for a tapestry I am creating which focuses on opposites and the ability of opposites to attract, polarize and also neutralize if and when they come together.   So I selected two fun opposites on the color wheel; a bright yellow green and a wonderful plum red violet and dyed three graduated mixtures of the two.

Here are the results drying in the back yard.  The fog just rolled in so it may be some time before they dry. The very light color at the far left is the yarn color I dyed.   It may look grey but its a bit more tan than the photo would imply.

The colors seem perfect for what I have in mind.  Hopefully, they will look as good when dry.

My Studio is Bright

 My studio is quite colorful with two tapestries brightening the room.  I just took off Ocean's Revenge and it is resting on my loom awaiting finishing.  It's companion piece Ode to the Ocean is finished and on the wall.

I must apologize for the photos and my recent silence, I just got a new computer which was fried in a recent series of power surges and it seems everything takes  ten times longer and is ten times more difficult to do with this new one.  I haven't had the time nor the patience to handle the process of getting an exhibit quality photo.   So these will do for now.

These two tapestries each convey a poem in stylized letters; one in reaction to the Gulf oil spill last year and a second about the inevitability of the ocean's impact on our coastal shores.  The first is 20 inches wide and 80 inches long.  The second is shorter but will be close to the other in length once the long coiled fringe is complete.  The yarns are mostly a self dyed cotton/silk blend.  

Both were quite enjoyable to weave.  The first my focus was on flawless execution and ensuring the blue oil oozed down through the middle of the piece.  With the second I became freer using more clashing colors,  a broader palette and will finish with a really fun fringe.

I have two opportunities later this year to exhibit these pieces. I think they will exhibit well together.

A Friend Came to Visit

A bit of black came to visit my neutrals....everyone seemed to perk up for the occasion.

Listening

I am in a color and fiber study group which  researches a given topic, shares what we find, explores the concept in fiber and other mediums and then creates an exhibit quality piece.   Our current topic: neutrals.

I decided I would avoid increasing my stash with new yarns and would attempt to create a tapestry with the neutral yarns I already have.   My normal approach would be to create the design then select the yarns.  This time I have the yarns and I am waiting for my yarn to speak to me about the design it would like to be.

I have put all my neutral and near neutral yarns in a basket in my studio. So far, the yarn has not had much to say.  

I will keep listening....

A Good Feeling

 No better feeling than taking a tapestry off the loom... and letting it rest. 

The piece has turned out great.  The colors are wonderful.  The letters right side up and heading the right direction.  This banner tapestry is eighty inches long and twenty inches long.   It will actually be longer since I will have some of the fringe hang from the bottom.

And best of all, I have lots of leftover warp to weave a companion piece.    I have already wrote the poem for the new piece.  It's called Ocean's Revenge.  The cartoon is complete so all I have to do is set up the loom and get going.  Perhaps next week.